Wrong Placard

In a letter addressed to over 1000 religious leaders, the perpetual PM-in-waiting promised a 'consultative mechanism' on 'policy matters' if voted to power ( http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090412/jsp/frontpage/story_10810571.jsp ). In the same letter he promised for the security of Ram Sethu. Earlier BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit chief promised to declare Sethu as a national monument. This is not for the first time the demolishers turned protectors appealed to the religious sentiments of people attached to the Sethu issue. For three years now, BJP and constituents of Sangh parivar have created ruckus without letting people know about the originators of the Sethusamudram canal project. RSS even employed a fake scientist Punish Taneja who went on to mislead the online followers of ‘Save Sethu’ campaign for two years with blatant falsehood and pseudo scientific theories. He was later exposed by one investigative news report of IE ( http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fraud-scientist-takes-rss-for-a-ride-down-lord-rams-bridge/33813/0 )

The Sethu Samudram Canal Project(SSCP) envisaged deepening of the shallow waters connecting the Palk Strait and Gulf Of Mannar to allow the ship movements from west to east coast and vice versa without going all around Srilanka. It involves dredging of shallow water regions including ‘Ramar Sethu’ (Adam’s bridge - a partly submerged discontinuous chain of limestone shoals and sand bars) for a width of 300m and up to a depth of 10 m. All feasibility and techno-economic studies were conducted during NDA’s rule (http://sethusamudram.gov.in/Study.asp ) and the NEERI- National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, approved the alignment no 6 after considering other alignments. UPA government only initiated the execution of the project in 2005 after the preparation of detailed project report. Unfortunately amidst the petitions, sound bites, chakka jams and political slogans, all voices which were debating the pros and cons of the project, cost-benefit analysis and possible ecological damage turned less audible. The project has now hit a roadblock with a wary government not wanting the Sethu issue snowball into another Ayodhya episode. It agreed to constitute an expert committee to examine the alternate alignments. Expectedly BJP is using it as a trump card in election season.

Some questions need to be answered. Who gave the green signal to the project? Why were Sangh Hindutva champions silent then? What explains the U turn of Adavni's BJP after losing the power at the centre? How many of us are aware of the promise “Sethusamudram project in Tamil Nadu will be speedily completed” made in the NDA manifesto for 2004 LS elections? Had they not lost power they would have merrily pursued the project without making an issue?

• From SSCP website. What is Sethusamudram Project?

The channel project was originally proposed by a Britisher, Commandar A.D.Taylor of the Indian Marine in 1860.In 1955, the Government of India set up the Sethusamudram project committee to tool into the feasibility of the project.After several studies, the government took a concrete step towards the execution of the project when Rs. 4.8 crore was allocated for a feasibility study of the Sethusamudram Ship channel Protect in the 2000-01 Union Budget. Following a directive from the Union Ministry of Shipping, the Tuticorin Port Trust undertook a Ground breaking feasibility-cum environment study for the project.

http://sethusamudram.gov.in/WhatisSethu.asp
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2000/03/02/stories/140260ss.htm

• We are committed to implement the project (March 2003 )

Finance Minister Jaswant Singh on Thursday pledged the government's commitment for an early start of a project pushed by Tamil Nadu politicians for decades and naval planners since the 1850s - the Sethusamudram Canal project.This is a project to deepen the Palk Strait and, thus, have a straight sea route between the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay. It is yet to get formal cabinet approval, though the techno-economic-environmental assessment study is on and should be ready by May.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/40212485.cms

• PM Vajpayee at a public meeting in Nagercoil, Feb 2004

The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, today gave the assurance that the Sethu Samudram project, a "cherished dream of the people of Tamil Nadu,'' would soon be realised.

http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/03/stories/2004020306750400.htm

Alignments considered before

Alignment 6 was approved by NEERI when NDA was in power